1. John J. Macionis Prentice Hall
Social Problems
John J. Macionis
Prentice Hall

2. Chapter 1 Sociology: Studying Social Problems

3. Seeing Patterns: The Sociological Perspective
People experience social problems in very personal ways
Sociology shows that the problems we face are not only the results of personal choices but reflect the operation of society itself
C. Wright Mills used the sociological imagination to show that our personal troubles are really social issues that affect many people – ourselves included

4. Defining Social Problems
A social problem is
a condition that undermines the well being of some or all members of society
is usually a matter of public controversy
Determining social problems can be controversial
subjective and objective realities may actually end up being quite different

5. Defining Social Problems
One indication that people recognize an issue as a social problem is the formation of a social movement
Social movements progress through four distinct stages:
Emergence
Coalescence
Formalization
Decline

6. Ten assertions that form the foundation for the analysis of social problems:
1. Social problems result from how society operates
2. Social problems are not caused by bad people
3. Social problems are not abnormal – they are structural in nature
4. Solving social problems requires change.
5. People see problems differently

7. Ten assertions that form the foundation for the analysis of social problems:
6.Definitions of problems change over time.
7.Problems involve values as well as facts
8.Many – but not all – problems – can be solved
9.Various social problems are related.
10. Sometimes, solving one problem creates a new problem

8. Analyzing Social Problems: The Role of Theory
Theory: a statement of how and why specific facts are related
Theoretical Paradigm: a basic image of society that guides thinking and research

9. The Structural-Functional Paradigm
A theoretical framework that sees society as a complex system of inter-related parts that work together
Social Institutions: the main parts of this system
education
family
economics
politics
religion

10. The Structural-Functional Paradigm
Early Functionalism: Problems as Social Pathology
The “Chicago School”: Problems as Disorganization
More Recent Functionalism: Problems as Dysfunctions

11. The Social Conflict Paradigm
A theoretical framework that sees society as divided by inequality and conflict
Social problems arise because our society is divided into “haves” and “have-nots”

12. The Social Conflict Paradigm
Marxism: Problems and Class Conflict
Multiculturalism: Problems of Racial and Ethnic Inequality
Feminism: Problems and Gender Conflict

13. The Symbolic-Interaction Paradigm
A theoretical framework that sees society as the product of individuals interacting with one another

14. The Symbolic-Interaction Paradigm
Learning Theory: Problems and the Social Environment
Labeling Theory; Problems and Social Definitions

15. Survey Research: Asking Questions
A researcher asks subjects to respond to items in a questionnaire or interview.
A questionnaire is a series of items a researcher presents to subjects for their response
In an interview, the researcher meets face to face with respondents to discuss a particular issue
While questionnaires offer a chance for greater breadth of opinion, interviews can provide greater depth of understanding

16. Field Research: Joining In
Also called participant observation
Involves researchers observing people while joining in their everyday activities

17. Experimental Research: Looking For Causes
Experiment: a method by which a researcher investigates cause-and-effect relationships under highly controlled conditions
Most experiments are carried out in specially designed laboratories

18. Secondary Analysis: Using Available Data
A common major research method that is based on collection of data originally collected by others

19. Truth and Statistics Check how people define their terms
Remember that numbers are subject to error
People often “spin” their statistics

20. Responding to Social Problems: Social Policy
Social policy refers to formal strategies to shape some dimensions of social life.
Social policy tends to be shaped by existing cultural values

21. Responding to Social Problems: Social Policy
The evaluation of social policy is difficult
there is more than one way to measure the “success” of any policy or program;
success is often accompanied by certain costs;
and because of the lack of specific guidelines for who a policy should target for assistance

22. Policy and Politics
Conservatives: seek to limit the scope of societal change
Liberals: favor more sweeping change in society
Radicals: support policies that go beyond mere reform
can be either ultra liberal or ultra conservative

23. Looking Beyond Ourselves: A Global Perspective
A global outlook shows
that many problems affect people around the world
that many of the problems that we in the U.S. face are more serious elsewhere

24. Politics: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions
The Political Spectrum: a continuum representing a range of political attitudes
Social Issues: political debates involving moral judgments about how people should live
Economic Issues: political debates about how a society should distribute material resources

25. Who Thinks What?
Two good predictors of political attitudes are education and wealth – both of which are elements of social class
The fact that social class affects social and economic attitudes differently means that most people have some combination of liberal and conservative attitudes